Rotary iron structure



April 25, 1939. A. F. YOERG ROTARY IRON STRUCTURE 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1936 Z $1 a Jf i 4 .4 m 1 ;f m 5 m 1 W4 MIN H M MM Q .mw 0 Li dW i n April 25, 1939.

A. F. YOERG' ROTARY IRON STRUCTURE Filed Ju1 14, 1936 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 25 1939 UNITED STATES ROTARY IRON STRUCTURE AlfredF. Yoerg, Des Moines; Iowa, assignor' of one-half to Harry Schlesinger, Des Moines,.

Iowa

ApplicationJuly 14, 1936, serial No. 90,558

9 Claims.

An object of my-invention is to provide a rotary iron structure of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide a rotary laundry iron in which a sole plateis rotated by an electric motor and the sole plate is provided with a point for ironing portions of a garment which are not suitable to be ironed with the sole plate while it is rotating, andwhich require a point-to extend up into intricate corners of the garment.

A further object is to provide a means for stopping the rotationof the sole'plate so that the point is accurately alined relative to a manipulating handle member for the iron.

More particularly it is myrobject to. provide in connection with an iron having a rotary sole plate a means for stopping. the sole plate in a predetermined position relative to the manipulating handle member for the iron, which means mechanically disconnects the motor from the sole plate, de-energizes the motor and positively stops the sole plate in only onepossible position.

A further object is to provide an improvedconstruction for rotatably mounting a sole plate relative to a manipulating handle membertof a rotary iron.

Still another object is to-provide means of connection between a sole-plate and the manipulating handle'member of the casing whereby the: sole plate is rotatably mounted relative to the casing without any possibility. of'wabblingof' onerela- .tive to the other, the connection being such as to involve a of friction during operation.

With. these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and. combination-of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l isa plan view of a rotary laundry iron embodying my invention a portion thereof being broken away to show constructional details.

Figure 2-is a side elevation of the iron onan enlarged scale, a portion thereof being broken away and other portions shown in section to 11- anism mounted thereon in bottom plan elevation;

Figure 5 is a similar sectionalviewon the line 5-5 of Figure 2 illustrating a clutch control mechanism.

Figure 6 is a" sectional view on the-line 6-6 of Figure '2, showing a-thermostat control arrange ment.

Figure '7 is an enlarged view of the-upper'porv tion of Figure 2 showingaprojection andnotched "in connection'between the soleplateand a driven gearfor rotating it.

Figure 8 is an enlargedsectional view onthe line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a further enlargedperspective view 15 of a portion of a clutch projection shown in side elevation in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional viewon the line Ill-ll] of Figure 6 showing-the thermostat control. 2

' Figure 11 is a perspective view of a-brush-and follower member-used in conjunction with a commutator in my rotary iron.

Figure 12 is an electro diagrammatical view of the iron.

On the accompanying drawings I have used'the referenc numeral l0- to'indicate a sole plate. The sole plate I0 is provided with a cover member 16 and the two are rotatably mounted relative to a casing 56 in the following described manner. 30

On the co-ver I6 I provide'an inner'ball race l3 and on the casing 56*an-outer ball'race l5. These of course, are annular and interposed between them is an annular row of balls ll, providing a connection between the sole plate I0 and the .35 casing 56, which permits relativerotation with a minimum of friction and wear:

During'assembly, in order to position the'balls l1 between the races l3 and I5, they are fedto position between the races through a' bore 19 in i0 the race l5, after the two races are positionedapproximately in alinementwith eachother. After the races have been filled with balls, a plug 2| is inserted to retain them in position. This plug is provided on its inner end with a face 23 coincident with the contour of the ball face of the racel5. I

The sole =platerl0 may be-of suitably hollowedout'construction to receivea heating element I2 .60 ,in the usual manner. The heating. element has terminal wires M which extend-to aconnector l6 and a thermostat A respectively. From the thermostat; A J a wire 1| 8 1 extends to .a .connector 20. The connectors 1.6 and- Z fl are adapteclto 11. 5

receive prongs 22 which are electrically connected with collector rings 24.

The thermostat A may be: of any suitable construction. I have illustrated it in ,Figure 10 as comprising a bimetal contact bar 26 adapted for making contact with an adjustable bar 28. The bar 28 is adjusted in position by an adjusting screw 30 having a lever 32. The lever 32 may be swung to diflerent adjusted positions by a link 34 connected with a second lever 36. The lever 36 is secured to a rock shaft 38 terminating in a control knob 40. The knob 40 is located in a point portion I I of the sole plate I0.

Current is supplied from a supply cord 42 to the collector rings 24 through arcuate brushes 44 formed of carbon or the like, and having suitable flexible leads or pigtails 46 connected with the wires 42. The brushes 44 are urged to engage the collector rings 24 as shown in Figure 2 by a follower plate 48 and springs 50. The follower plate 48 has a pair of pins 52 received in the springs 50 to prevent them from buckling. The brushes 44 are mounted in arcuate bores 54 of a casing member 56.

For rotating the sole plate I0 I provide an electrio motor 58 mounted on the casing 56 and retained in position by a clamp 60. The shaft of the motor is provided with a worm 62 (see Figure 1) which meshes with a worm gear 64. The worm gear 64 is secured to a shaft 66 to which is also secured apinion 68 (see Fig. 4). The worm 62 and the worm gear 64 are suitably encased in a housing I0, while the pinion 68 is encased in a housing I2.

An annular mounting ring I4 is mounted on the sole plate I0, or rather on a cover I6 for the sole plate. The ring I4 retains a ring gear I8 in position relative to the cover I6, yet permits rotation of the gear relative thereto. The gear I8 meshes with the pinion 68.

I provide a clutch connection between the ring gear I8 and the sole plate ID in the form of a rotatable stud 80 journalled in a bore 82 of the cover I6, and having an eccentric wing 84 to engage in one of a series of four notches 86 formed on the internal diameter of the ring gear I8. The stud 80 normally assumes the position shown in Figures 3, 5 and 8 with the wing 84 in one of the notches 86, due to the action of a spring 88. This spring tends to rotate a lever 90 in a clockwise direction, thereby rotating a lever 92 also in a clockwise direction through the medium of a link connection 94, the lever being limited in position by striking one end of a slot 96. Obviously when the lever is swung counter-clockwise, as in Figure 5, the lever 92 will also be swung counter-clockwise which will move the wing 84 from the dotted position of Figure 7 to the full line position shown therein, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

On the side of the casing 56 I provide a boss 98. A stop pin I00 is slidably mounted therein and adapted for contacting with the upper face I02 of the cover I6 and to enter a notch I04 therein when such notch registers with the pin as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. The stop pin I00 is urged upwardly in any suitable manner as by a leaf spring IOI, and is adapted to be actuated downwardly by a control rod I06 having a rounded head I08 for wedging between a stop plate I I0 and the rounded upper end of the pin I00.

The control rod I06 is adapted to be slid in one direction by a button- II2, and in the other direction by a button II4 on a pivoted lever H6. The head I08 is connected with a switch lever 1, this switch being in circuit with the motor 58, as shown in Figure 12. A switch II8 on the opposite side of the casing 56 is provided for the heating element I2.

The lever H6 is pivoted on a handle bolt I20 which extends through a handle I22. The handle is provided for manipulating the iron and is supported relative to the casing 56 by a pair of arms I24.

Practical operation In the operation of my iron, the switch II8 can be closed for closing the circuit through the heating element I2, for thus heating the sole plate I0. Thereafter the temperature of the sole plate is automatically controlled by the thermostat A, depending on its setting. The button H4 is then pressed for moving the lever II6 to the dotted position in Figure 2, whereupon the switch I I! is turned on for energizing the motor 58, and the pin I00 is raised out of the notch I04 which, as will hereinafter appear, effects a clutch connection between the ring gear 18 and the sole plate I0. With the sole plate I 0 in operation, the operator can iron a greater area of clothing in less time than by using a stationary sole plate, as a greater area of the garment is gone over while the sole plate is in rotation than if it were stationary during the passage of the iron across the garment.

There are many places on articles of clothing where it is undesirable touse the sole plate while rotating, particularly places which have to be entered with a point of the iron. Accordingly I provide the point II, and when it is desired to use the point for the purpose above outlined, it is, of course, desirable to stop it in a predetermined position relative to the handle II2. This is accomplished by pressing on the button II2 which first moves from the dotted position to the full line position of Figure 2,- and in so doing moves the stop I00 from its upper dotted position to its intermediate full line position contacting with the upper surface I02 of the cover I6. In this position it is projected into the path of the outer end of the lever 90, which lever strikes it and is then held from further rotation by the stop pin. This produces a movement of the lever 90 counter-clockwise relative to the sole plate I0 when viewed as in Figure 5, which rotates the wing 84 of Figure 7 from the dotted position to the full line position in which latter position it is disengaged from the notch 86 in which it is seated. This permits the ring gear I8 to continue to rotate while. the sole plate I0 will rotate, due only to its momentum.

The notch I04 is so related in position to the lever 90 that it will be about in the position of Figure 2 when the clutch connection has been finally disengaged. Momentum will then carry it to the dash line position, which willpermit the pin I to drop to its lower limit of movement, also shown by dash lines, such dropping thereof being effected by reason of the operator still having his thumb on the button H2 and attempting to push the rod I06 inwardly to shut ofi the motor by moving the switch lever III to its open circuit position. Therefore the sole plate I0 will be stopped in a predetermined position, or with its point II in a predetermined position relative to the handle I22, and the motor will be simultaneously de-energized, as it will no longer be needed, even though disconnected from the sole plate through the clutch connection described.

Returning now to subsequent rotation of the sole plate I, it will be obvious that when the button H4 is pressed upon, the switch II! will be turned on and the head I88 will be moved from its left dash line position in Figure 2 to its right dotted position, whereupon the pin I88 will be raised first out of the notch HM and then out of the way of the lever 90. The spring 88 will then swing the lever 98 toward the position of Figure 5, whereupon the edge of the wing 84 will engage the inner surface 19 of the ring gear 18 until one of the notches 86 registers therewith, whereupon the spring 88 will swing the lever 90 further to its full line position in Figure 5. This will place the wing 84 in the notch as shown by dotted lines in Figure '7, whereupon the sole plate will be connected with the motor 58 and thereafter rotated thereby until the control button 2 is again pushed inwardly.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical. equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotary iron of the character described, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate rotatably mounted relative thereto, means for heating said sole plate, means for rotating said sole plate and means for stopping said sole plate in a predetermined position relative to said manipulating handle member.

2. In a rotary iron of the character described, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate rotatably mounted relative thereto, means for heating said sole plate, means for rotating said sole plate, a pointed extension on the periphery of said sole plate and means for stopping the rotation of said sole plate with said point in a predetermined position relative to said manipulating handle member.

3. In a rotary iron of the character described, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate rotatably mounted relative thereto, means for heating said sole plate, a motor operatively connected with said sole plate for rotating it and means for simultaneously disconnecting said motor from said sole plate and de-energizing said motor and stopping said sole plate in a predetermined position relative to said manipulating handle member.

4. In a rotary iron of the character described, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate rtatably mounted relative thereto, said sole plate having a depression, a movable stop lug on said handle member, means for heating said sole plate, a motor operatively connected with said sole plate for rotating it and means for disconnecting said motor from said sole plate, de-energizing said motor and engaging said stop lug with the depression of said sole plate to stop it in a predetermined position relative to said manipulating handle member.

5. In a rotary iron of the character described, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate mounted relative thereto, an electric motor on said handle member for rotating said sole plate,

7 member.

a clutch connection between said motor and said sole plate, a switch for said motor and a controller for said clutch connection and motor, said controller being connected with said switch and said clutch connection and movable to a predetermined position for simultaneously disengaging said clutch connection and opening said switch.

6. In a rotary iron of the character described, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate mounted relative thereto, an electric motor on said handle memberfor rotating said sole plate, a clutch connection between said motor and said sole plate, a switch for said motor and a common control means for said clutch connection, motor and sole plate, said common means simultaneously disengaging said clutch, de-energizing said motor and stopping said sole plate relative to said manipulating handle member.

7. In a rotary iron, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate, a pointed extension on the periphery of the sole plate, said sole plate being rotatably mounted relative to said manipulating handle member, an electric motor on said handle member for rotating said sole plate, a clutch connection between said motor and sole plate, a switch for said motor and a controller for said clutch connection and motor, said controller, when moved to one position disengaging said clutch and then de-energizing said motor and engaging said sole plate to stop the rotation thereof with said pointed extension in a predetermined position relative to said handle member.

8. In a rotary iron, a manipulating handle member, a sole plate rotatably mounted relative thereto, an electric motor on said handle member, a driven member rotatably mounted on said sole plate and operatively connected with said electric motor, said driven member having a plu rality of notches, a projection on said sole plate adapted to extend into one of said notches for operatively connecting said driven member with said sole plate, a switch for said motor and a movable controller for said projection and motor, said controller in one position thereof, removing said projection from the notch in which it is seated and then de-energizing. said motor.

, into one of said notches for operatively connecting said driven member with said sole plate, a switch for said motor and a movable controller for said projection element, motor and sole plate, said controller, when positioned for operation, disengaging said projection from the notch of said driven member in which it is seated, deenergizing said motor and engaging said stop lug with said depression of said sole plate to stop rotation thereof with said pointed projection in a predetermined position relative to said handle ALFRED F. YOERG. 

